Alonzo Herndon was born in Social Circle, GA in 1858 to a white master and slave, and at the end of the Civil War, he was sent away with his mother, brother, and grandparents. In his leisure time, he relaxed at an orange-grove estate he had acquired in Lake County, Florida, which he improved and sold some years later at an impressive profit. Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. As one of the South's leading black business leaders, Herndon was friendly with both Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. His barbershops windows were smashed in the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906. Alonzo F. Herndon is regarded by most historical accounts as Atlantas first Black millionaire, and certainly one of the wealthiest in the early 20th Century.
Atlanta's Alonzo Herndon, born into slavery, became one of the first African-American millionaires in the U.S., founding Atlanta Life Insurance Company, among Encyclopedia of World Biography. He went to Jonesboro, Clayton County on foot. } Regardless of the reason, his acquisition strategy made Atlanta Life one of the most successful black businesses in the nation by the 1920s. . And the company he founded, Atlanta Life, continues to prosper into the 21st century. } Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 22, 1999, p. A1; August 18, 2002, p. G1. His business was very great and he could expand it. color:#f4c85e; Employees: 46,000 191 Peachtree St #2500, Atlanta, GA 30303. Blake Sims. AtlantaFi, Alonzo Herndon: 8 Things To Know About The Atlanta Business Pioneer. Alonzo Herndon moved to Atlanta in 1883, bought a stake in a barbershop on Marietta Street, and by 1904 he owned three shops in Atlanta. After a few months Herndon migrated to the town of Jonesboro, in Clayton County. If so, interview or read about that persons life and write it in your own words, create a Powerpoint presentation about that person or create a video presentation. [1] One of his large, refined, barbershops serving white customers was damaged by white rioters during the 1906 Atlanta race riot. Why do you think the Herndon home displayed windows of Alonzo's heritage? Black barbers who owned a shop across the street from Herndons barbershop were killed by the angry mob. }
In mourning, he threw himself into managing his new business. In 1882, he moved to Atlanta, and found a post with a highly regarded local barber. ::selection{ At one point, Herndon was the wealthiest African-American in Atlanta.
After some years, Herndon decided to get in on the insurance business. letter-spacing:0.4px; Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Husband of Jane Gaston. Herndon died in 1927, at 69. In 1905, Herndon purchased a failing mutual aid association . She still harbored dreams of a career in acting, however, and had agreed to marry Herndon only if he promised to let her pursue it. He was also involved in the Southview Cemetery Association, Atlanta Loan and Trust, and the Atlanta State Savings Bank, and was a key investor in Gate City Drug Company, the first black-owned drugstore on Auburn Avenue. Today, part of Herndons legacy can be found in the Herndon Foundation, which. Alonzo and Adrienne had a son, Norris. .post-share i.fa:hover, .footer-copyright .social-icon ul li a:hover, .header-bottom .social-icon ul li a:hover, .content .post-content .read-more a, a.more-link, ul li a:hover, #commentform #commentSubmit, ol.commentlist li .reply a, .th-widget-recent-post .th-recent-post h5 a:hover, .widget .twitter-user a, .standard-layout .format-link h2, .th_more_posts a#more_posts, .format-quote blockquote p:before, .widget .tagcloud a:hover, .content .post-content .description p a, .page-description p a, .multipage-links span, .content .navigation.post-navigation .nav-links a:hover, .content #main .pagination a:hover, .post-title h2:hover{color:#f4c85e;} Sign up to receive GPB Event announcements via Email. It is one of a few structures associated with Herndon in Atlanta and the success he brought to the city. Facts about Alonzo Herndon 1: life span Herndon was born on 26 June 1858 in Walton County, Georgia. When he was strong enough, at age 13, his former masterand biological fatheroffered him a job on the plantation as a farmhand, a position he held for the next seven years. } He opened his own barbershop in Atlanta in 1886. background:#0e0e0e; .content .standard-layout .post.format-standard .post-img{ A small donation would help us keep this available to all. Despite several crises in the industry and lean times generally, Atlanta Life under Herndons leadership survived and progressed into the next decades as a secure and prosperous business. Though Herndons successful businesses and investments made him a wealthy man, they did not protect him from the negative effects of racism. Herndon soon opened his first business, a barbershop, in Jonesboro. fbq('init', '213902435871547');
.page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before { A second restructuring in 1922 gave the company, by now operating in several Southern states, the name "Atlanta Life.". Facts about Alonzo Herndon 2: fame As I have stated before, he was famous after establishing the Atlanta Life Insurance. In New Georgia Encyclopedia.
Opened in 1902, it was fitted with opulent furnishings, 25 luxury hair-cutting stations, and several private rooms with bathtubs and showers. 56. His home was included in National Historic Landmark in United States in 2000. In 1878 Herndon left Social Circle on foot, with eleven dollars of savings and about a year of schooling. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
As proprietor, Herndon personally saw to the barbering services provided to some of the most important figures in the state, earning their acquaintance and good will. .simplesocialbuttons.simplesocialbuttons_inline .ssb-fb-like {
.last-btn #menu >li:last-child > a { Only a year later, he was invited to move his premises to one of the citys fanciest hotels, Markham House. Alonzo Herndon began construction on the house in 1905 and it was substantially complete when Adrienne Herndon died after a brief illness in 1910. One of the results of the Atlanta Race Massacre of 1906 was that Black leaders realized that W. E. B. At the time of. Encyclopedia.com. With the Southern economy wrecked, she was forced to accept payment in molasses, potatoes, or other provisions in order to feed her sons. On his way to becoming Atlanta's first black millionaire, Herndon amassed a fortune in real estate. As for Atlanta LIfe, it exists today as Atlanta Life Financial Group, located at. Herndon bought the business for $140 in 1905, and when he deposited the sum according to the new state regulatory rules, his company became the first in the state to meet the new requirement. Insurance executive [1], Through his enterprises, Herndon became Atlanta's first black millionaire. He also invented his money in real estate. . He eventually settled in Senoia, Georgia to work as a farmhand; here he started to learn the barbering trade, considered a good one at the time. (2004). His full name is Alonzo Franklin Herndon. In addition to serving as a role model and inspiration to generations of African American entrepreneurs, Herndon left a significant family legacy. } Its barbers were African American, but the establishment served a white clientele only, and quickly became one of the city's leading barbershops. } Year Erected: 2017. line-height:48px; After her husbands death Jessie Herndon assumed a position on the board of directors of Atlanta Life and, with her stepson, assumed control of the enterprise as the major stockholders. Herndon was born on June 26, 1858 in Walton County, Georgia to Frank Herndon, a white farmer, and Sophenie, his slave. .upcoming-events li { He was one of 25 people enslaved by his father, who never acknowledged paternity of him. Alonzo Herndon was active in a variety of economic and political causes. An African American barber and entrepreneur, Alonzo Herndon was founder and president of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the most successful black-owned insurance businesses in the nation. She was a drama teacher at Atlanta University at the time. background:#f4c85e; At the time of his death in 1927, he was also Atlantas wealthiest Black citizen, owning more property than any other African American. then he bought a plantation near tavares florida. }
He incorporated it as the Atlanta Mutual Insurance Association. } Herndon trained as a barber, and had his first small shop in Jonesboro.
Warren, New Jersey 07061 border-left: 3px solid #f4c85e; It also was in 1905 that Herndon made the significant decision to enter the world of insurance finance, and purchased the struggling Atlanta Benevolent and Protective Association, which had been founded by a local African American pastor. Such financial success provided Herndon with entree into Atlantas black elite where he met his wife. Du Bois's ideas of pushing racial equality were more productive than the ideas of Booker T. Washington. .footer-wrapper p, .footer-wrapper a,
At age 20, Herndon decided to broaden his horizons, first taking a job as a farmhand in the nearby town of Senoia, then taking a part-time position in Jonesboro as a barber. "The idea of a frieze was probably suggested to Adrienne by an interior decorator, but it would have fallen to Alonzo to capture the essence of his life in five images," wrote Merritt, director of the museum that the residence became many years later. Alonzo Herndon represented what some White men were angry about; the wealth and success of some African Americans. Georgia Public Radio GPTV, Dreams Never Realized: The Strike of 1914-15, A Phoenix Reconsumed: The Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, Beyond the Cookies: The Girl Scouts of America, Rebecca Latimer Felton: Senator for a Day, The Empire of Pink Morton: Turn of the Century African-American Mogul, The Mother of the Girl Scouts: Juliette Gordon Low, Welcome South, Brother: Georgia's First Radio Station. Herndon launched a business with only a formal education, but he was determined to make it. Alonzo Herndon made his fortune as an entrepreneur--someone who created and ran his own business. /*inline margin*/
Progressive voices like Henry Grady promoted a more diverse economy, welcoming northern investment, while populists like Tom Watson believed the focus should remain on the needs of working Georgians, particularly farmers. Steve Jobs. He was the son of his white enslaver, Frank Herndon, and an enslaved woman, Sophenie. .footer-wrapper li, He was born on 9th July 1819 and, Facts about Bernie Mac tell you about the notable American actor, stand-up comedian and voice artist. AboutPressCopyrightContact. .header-wrap-top,.header-wrap-top .inner-wrap-top{background:#1e73be;}.header-wrap-top .top-date{color:#fff;}.header-wrap-top .top-menu .top li a{color:#fff;} .header-wrap-top .top-social-icon li a{color:#fff;} Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. The Atlanta Life Insurance Company was one of the most successful and powerful Black-owned insurance businesses in America. Do you know that he was born into slavery? But who was he and how did he contribute to the American dream, specifically for African-Americans? color:#f4c85e; He was born on June 26, 1858 and his birthplace is Georgia. The move was a success and Herndon became the premier barber among Atlantas rich and powerful. Alexa Benson Herndon, Atlanta Life Insurance Company: Guardian of Black color:#494bbc; They had one son together, Norris B. Herndon. In 1922, the name was changed to the Atlanta Life Insurance Company and expanded to several states in the south such as Florida, Kansas, Kentucky and other states.
When President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Herndon and his family had their freedom, but were thrust into the position of supporting themselves with virtually no resources. Copyright 2023 Interactive One, LLC. As his personal fortune grew, Herndon entered the field of insurance. font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; He passed away on 21 July 1927. .home .navigation .menu > li > a:hover, .home .navigation ul li a:hover, .home header #main-menu-wrapper .menu-item-has-children > a:hover:after, Perhaps recalling his early years of extreme deprivation, Herndon treated his employees well and became a generous supporter of a number of Atlanta charitable organizations. Include how this persons life has affected your life. Henderson, Alexa. font-size:14px; His child Norris B. Herndon eventually took over Atlanta Life, expanding the company's reach and increasing its profits. .header a#pull,.home .header a#pull,.header-wrapper header.smaller a#pull,.page-template-magazine-template.page .header-style-one .header #main-menu-wrapper a#pull:before{ United States, From Rags to Riches: The Story of Alonzo Herndon, Copyright 2023, Georgia Public Broadcasting. Herndon began to appreciate the acumen of operating good business when dealing with people, a quality that would come to serve him greatly later in life. How does Alonzo Herndon embody the American dream? background:#f4c85e; Alonzo Franklin Herndon was an African American entrepreneur who founded and was the first president of Atlanta Life Insurance Company. 31. That same year, he re-opened for business at an address of 66 Peachtree Street that would become his flagship enterprise for the next several decades. Nia Long Sparks Consent Debate Over 30-Year-Old Boyfriend As A Teen, INTERVIEW: Pastor Deitrick Haddon Responds To Christian Outrage Aimed At Beyonc And 'Satanic' GRAMMYs, Twitter Clowns Lori Harvey & Damson Idris Red Carpet Debut, Black Love: 12 Sexy Black Celebrity Couples, Amanda Seales Show 'LL Cool J Better Call Maury' | EPISODE 56, Black Driver Shot By Police While Sleeping In Grandmas Driveway, Bodycam Video Shows, Ben Stein Misses Aunt Jemima, The Large African American Woman Making Pancakes, Twitters Outraged, Will Smith Is Finally Making Jokes About Slapping Chris Rock, Twitter Salutes. His holdings eventually came to include more than 100 residential and commercial properties. "My aim," he explained in a speech that year delivered at the Tuskegee Institute and quoted in the Merritt book, "has been for several years to try to get as many of our people together to cooperate in business and along all other lines. The great trouble in establishing insurance companies among our people is that it is difficult for our people to understand the advantage of pulling together for the common and for their own good." color:#fff;} Encyclopedia.com. color:#f4c85e; 23 Feb. 2023
